Article feeding apparatus



P 1959 I s. B. SIMER 2,904,162

ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Filed. Aug. 4, 1958 FAQ; 1 l K H 30 35 [E] I[f l /5 H 3427/- 3/ ml a M /5 HIi/i/Z/ l4) 25 7 u L I d L Samuel, 5

United States latent 2,904,162 ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Samuel B.Simer, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to G enejralElectric Company, acorporation of New York Application August 4, 1958, Serial Nb. 752,972 9Claims. 01. 198-33) This invention relates to article feeding orhandlin'g devices and more particularly to apparatus for feeding hollowtubular articles, of the type having a substantially closed weighted endand open at itsother end, in a predetermined endwise oriented positioninto, a more or less vertically arranged article dispensing tube orchute ans 7 In the manufacture of electrical devices such as candescentlamps, for errampla one of the manufacturing operations, commonly knownas the lamp basing operation, comprises the mounting of a lamp base onthe glass bulb of the lamp. Such lamp bases are generally of tubularcharacter and comprise a .metal shell portion open at one end and havingits other end substantiallyclosed by a web of insulating material suchas glass which, due to its relatively heavyweight as .corn pared to theweight of the thin metal shell, thereby renders the closed end of thebase heavier than the open end thereof. Since, in carrying out the.above-mentioned basing operation, the base must be placed onto the lampbulb in a predetermined endwise oriented position, i.e with its open endfirst, the se of automatically enemiing mechanisms to perform the larnpbasing operation therefore requires that the bases be located in such apredetermined endwise oriented posit-ion the time ithey are transferredto and placed on the lamp bulb inlreadiness for attachment thereto Inone form of automatically operating 7 which has been employed to performthe above-mentionedlamp basing operation, the bases al ered endwise froma more or less vertically arranged base dispensing guide tube means intoa transfer means which then transfers the base to, and places .it properassembled relation on the lamp bulb. With such a baseffejeding andtransfer arrangement, is desirable that the basis he fed from thedispensing tube means to the base transfer means in a predeterminedendwfise oriented position which will insure in each case the proper.endwise placement and positioning of the base on the lamp bulb by thebase transfer means.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide article handlingapparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles, having a substantially.clo'se d weighted end and open at its other end, in a predeterminedendwiSeofiented position into an article dispensing tube or chute .meansfrom which the articles may be delivered for further processing or use.I s s Another object of invention is;-to provide article handlingapparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles, of the type having asubstantially closed weighted end and open at its other end, from aloose collection of the articles in a reservoir and serially loadingthem in a predetermined endwise oriented position into an articledispensing tube or chute means. I j I 7,

Still another object of my invention-is to provide an article handlingmechanism for feeding lamp bases, of

the type comprising a thin metal shell portion substantially closed atone end: by a web of" insulating .r ria terial,

ice

ina predetermined closed end down position into a substantiallyvertically arranged base dispensing tube means. A further object of myinvention is the provision, in

association with article handling means of the type adapted to conveyarticles having a substantially closed weighted end and open at itsother end in an endwise direct-ion toward and serially discharge theminto a vertically arranged article-receiving tube by the overbalancingof the articles thereinto, of article orienting means simplein form andeffective in operation for permitting .the overbalancing and passage ofthe articles only in a the articles through a discharge opening into anunderlying article receiving or dispensing tube by the overbalancing ofthe articles into the discharge opening, is provided with a ir jet meanslocated adjacent the upper end on thearticle-receiving or dispensingtube means and arranged to direct an air jet upwardly through thecentral; region of the article discharge opening in the supportingsurface to sweep away from the said opening, and preventoverbalancingand passage therei-nto of all thoseartieles approaching the dischargeopening with open" end first, While permitting overbalancing and entryinto the discharge opening of those articles approachihg the openingwith their weighted end first.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the direction ofapproach of the articles toward the discharge open ng, and the directionof the air jet upwardly through thedischarge opening, are so correlatedas to cause .the airj et to at least partly enter the open end ofthereof; and from the accompanying drawing.

inii n l Fig. l .is an elevation, partly in section, of article handlingapparatus comprising my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewiof the article handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a perspective view of the article dispensing tube means and theassociated article endwise orienting means of the apparatu's.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar sectional views of the article orienting meansof the apparatus respectively showing the .ni'anne'r of operationthereof on articles approaching the discharge opening of the apparatusin different endwise directions, and

Pig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing a modifiedform of article orienting means accordingto the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is there illustirate'd asapplied to the handling and feeding of lamp bases as thoseconventionally used on' incandescent fame; for example, and comprisingathin tubular or cylindrical inetal shell portion 2 ('Figs. 4-6) open atone end as-indicated at 3 and substantially closed at its other eh byeweb 4 of suitable insulating material, such as glass, carrying one ormore metal end contacts 5 Bevcauseiof the relative heaviness of theglass insulation .4

as .cor'npar'ed 'to' the light weight of the thin metal shell base maybe provided with an internal ring '3' of conventional basing cernent forsecuring the base to thebulo -or envelope of the lamp or other device.The invention is of particular utility in connection with the feeding,in a predetermined endwise oriented position, of lamp bases of thebayonet pin type such as shown wherein the metal shell portion 2 isprovided with one or more pins 6, for example a pair of diametricallyopposite pins 6, protruding outwardly from the side thereof forengagement with cooperating lamp orienting slots in a lamp socket (notshown). I

In its general manner of operation, the apparatus according to theinvention is adapted to feed or convey the lamp bases 1 or otherarticles one at a time from a loose haphazard collection thereof in ahopper or bowl 7 and load the bases successively, in a predeterminedendwise oriented position, into a more or less vertically arranged basedispensing or receiving tube means 8 from which the bases are thensubsequently dispensed, as needed, for further processing or for loadinginto other apparatus such as, for example, insertion in thebasereceiving pockets 9 of a transfer turret 10.

The mechanism 11 for feeding the bases 1 or other articles one at a timeto the dispensing tube means 8 may be of any suitable type which willtransport the bases 1 one unobstructed movement of the bases -1 off theupper end 'of the conveyor track onto the shelf floor 12.

at a time in a fixed path across a more or less horizontally disposedflat article-supporting surface or shelf floor 12 and over an articledischarge opening 13 therein into which the advancing bases 1 thenoverbalance and drop into the dispensing tube means 8. Preferably,however, the article feeding mechanism 11 is of the well-known vibratorybowl type such as is commonly in use at present and comprising anarticle-receiving bowl 7 having a slightly conical-shaped floor 14 fromwhich rises an upwardly inclined spiral conveyor track or ramp 15extending around the inside of the bowl. Vibrator motor means areprovided for supporting and effecting vibratory oscillation movement ofthe bowl 7 about its vertical center axis in an inclined arcuate path ofmovement corresponding approximately to the direction of inclination ofthe conveyor track 15 to cause the bases 1 in the bowl to move aroundthe floor l 4'generally outwardly thereof toward the side wall of thebowl and thence up the inclined conveyor track 15. I The vibratory motormeans comprises a pluends to the bowl 7 and to a base 17 soas toyield-ably support the bowl for oscillation movement in theaforementioned inclined arcuate path and an'electromagnet 18 whichactsto intermittently pull the bowl'7 downwardly against the resistance ofthe springs .16. 'In'the particular case illustrated, there are four ofthe leaf spring 'a core 19 and a coil 20, is mounted on the base 17 inclose proximity to an armature 21'fixed to the bottom of the bowl 7. Theelectromagnet 18 is energized from a suitable source of alternatingcurrent by way of a half wave rectifier (not shown) which converts thealternating current to the pulsating current or intermittent currentpulses required to efiect the periodic actuation of the electromagnet18. Each time the bowl -7 is pulled down by the electromagnet 18, theangularity of the leaf springs 16 will cause the bowl to movesimultaneously downward rality of leaf springs 16 which are fixed atrespective and clockwise (as viewed from the top) in an inclined.

movement of the bowl upwardly and counterclockwise to its'originalelevated position by the action of the leaf springs 16, upon the ensuingde-energization of the electromagnet 18.

At its upper end, the inclined helical conveyor track 15 terminates inan article discharge conveyor section in the general form of a tray orshelf 22 comprising a substantially horizontally disposed flatarticle-supporting surface or floor portion '12 onto which the bases 1or other articles are delivered off the upper end of the inclinedconveyor track '15, and an upstanding marginal articleguiding flange 23.The shelf or tray 22 is fixedly mounted on the bowl 7 so as to vibratein unison therewith in an arcuate inclined path of movement about thevertical center axis of the bowl, as a result of which the bases orother articles 1 resting on the shelf floor 12 are urged outwardlyagainst and along the marginal upstanding flange 23 which thus acts toguide the articles in a predetermined path of travel across the shelffloor. As shown, the upstanding marginal flange 23 is formed asacontinuation of the inner side of the bowl 7 at the upper end of theinclined conveyor track 15 so as to permit The article-supportingsurface or floor 12 of the shelf or tray .22 is provided with a circulararticle or base discharge opening 13 directly overlying the upper end ofthe article or base dispensing tube means 8 and located in the path ofadvance movement of the bases 1 along the floor 12, into which dischargeopening 13 the bases ,1 overbalance and drop down into the receivingtube means 8. diameter just sufficient to permit the free overbalancingThecircular discharge opening 13 is of a 'lengths of thediametricallyopposite bayonet pinsfi. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thearticle or base dispensing guide tube means 8 may be constituted by anumber '(four) of vertically extending guide rods 24 uniformly spacedapart and disposed in a circle to conjointly define a vertical guidepassageway of'a size to receive and permit passage therethrough of thebases 1 in an endwise direction, asshown in Fig. 1. The guide rods 24are fastened to, and supported in' place by'a support bracket 25 whichissecured to a stationary member (not shown), such as a part ofthe'machine frame or'base on which the turret 10' is rotatably mounted,and is provided'with a circular aperture 25' centered within the groupof guide rods24 for permitting unobstructed passage of the bases 1downwardly in the'dispensing tube means past the supporting bracket25'." The stack of bases 1 in the dispensing tube means 8 is held backin place therein, and the bases released one'at a time'from the bottomof the stack into the openings 9 in the turret 10, by conventional typeescapement means such as a pair of fingers 26 which are verticallyspaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of one of thebases and are arranged to alternately enter, and block the downwardmovement of the stack of bases 1 in the dispensingtube means 8.

In the caseof lamp bases of the general typekillustrated but notequipped with the protruding bayonet pins 6, the bases will alloverbalance into and drop through the discharge opening 13 in'the sameendwise oriented position, i.e. with their closed or weighted ends 4first or facing downwardly, provided the discharge opening 13 is of adiameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the metal'shellportion 2 of the base. This is because of the fact that the radius ofsuch a size circular base discharge opening 13 is less than the lengthof the longer balance of such a pinless type base, the longer balancearm being the one extending from the center of gravity of the base tothe open end 3 'thereof since the center of gravity '0 (Fig. 4) isnearer the closed or weighted end asst, 1 as .3 of the base than theopenend thereof. Accordingly, when such apinless type 'bas'e passesacross the discharge opening 13 with its open or lighter weight endfirst, "the rim of the open end of the base shell 2fwill pa's's beyondthe maximum diametrical width of the opening 13 (i.e., half way acrossthe opening in the direction of travel of the base) before the baseadvances across the opening to the point where it would normallyoverbalance thereinto if the opening 13 were large enough to permit suchoverbalancing. The base is thereby prevented from overbalancing open-endfirst into the discharge opening 13, and can only overbalance thereintowith its weighted end first since the length of the balance arm of theweighted end of the base is less than the radius of the circulardischarge opening. However, in the case of a bayonet pin lamp base 1 ofthe type illustrated where, because of the protruding bayonet pins 6,the discharge opening 13 must be made of a diameter appreciably greaterthan the outside diameter of the metal shell portion '12 so as toaccommodate and permit free passage therethrough of the base with itsprotruding bayonet pins 6, the radius of such an enlarged dischargeopening 13 will then be greater than the longer balance arm of the baseextending from its center of gravity C to its open end 3. As a result,such bayonet pin type bases 1 are capable of overbalancing into theenlarged diameter opening 13 with their open end first as well as withtheir closed end first.

The problem of preventing the overbalancing of such bayonet pin typelamp bases open end first into the enlarged discharge opening 13, so asto obtain the same endwise (i.e., closed end down) orientation of thebases in the base dispensing tube means 8, is further complicated inthose cases where, because of the provision and added weight of aninternal ring ofb asing cement 3 in the base shell 2 adjacent the openend 3 thereof, the difference between the lengths of the respectivebalance arms of the open and closed ends of the base is relativelyslight and the closed end of the base is only slightly heavier than theopen end thereof.

In accordance with the invention, therefore, base orienting means areprovided to prevent the overbalancing of such bayonet pin type bases 1into the discharge opening 13 with their open end first while permittingthe ovenbalancing into the opening of the bases with their closed orweighted end first. The said base orienting means comprises one or moreair nozzles 27 located adjacent the upper end of the base dispensingtube 8 and beneath the discharge opening 13 and the supporting surfaceor shelf floor 12, and connected to a source of relatively low pressurecompressed air or other gaseous medium, to direct an air jet or jets 28(Figs. 46) upwardly through the central region of the discharge opening13 in a direction, relative to the approaching base 1, such as to causethe air jet to at least partially enter the open end of a baseapproaching the discharge opening 13 with its open end first and therebybias the closed weighted end of the base so as to sweep or flip the saidbase away from the opening before it starts to overbalance thereinto.Because of the heavier weight of the closed or weighted end of the base3, the intensity or velocity of the air jet 28 required to sweep or flipaway from the discharge opening :13' those bases 1 approaching theopening with their weighted end first is considerably higher than thatrequired to sweep or flip away those bases 1 approaching the dischargeopening 13 with their open end first. Consequently, for the purposes ofthe invention, the intensity or velocity of the air jet 28 is selectedwithin the range wherein it is sufiiclent to insure the sweeping orflipping away from the discharge opening 13 of all those bases 1approaching the said opening with their open end first but insuftypebases 1 such as illustrated and commercially known as miniature bayonetor bayonet candelabra type bases, 1 have found that the use of an airpressure 'of't'he order of a few ounces 'per square inch for the air jet28 ordinarily will suffice to assure the proper operation in theabove-described manner of the base orienting means 3 according to theinvention. However, the optimum pressure required in each particularcase for the air jet 28 will depend on the particular type of base 1 orother article being handled, and must be properly selected at that levelwhich will assure the, Proper operation of the air jet 28 in the mannerdescribed. In actual practice, in connection with the handling of lampbases 1 ,such as illustrated, the air nozzle 27 is supplied with airfrom a source of compressed air 'at a pressure of the order ofapproximately four pounds per square inch, which pressure is thensuitably reduced to that lower optimum pressure required 'to effect theproper operation of the air jet 28.

In addition to the provision of the air jet 28 directed upwardly throughthe discharge opening 13, the base orienting means according to theinvention also comprises a guide passageway or channelway 29 provided inthe shelf floor 12 and leading to the rim of the discharge opening 13therein for the purpose of guiding the advancing bases 1 in an endwisedirection, and in a predetermined direction of approach toward andacross the said opening 13, so as to be in proper position relative tothe air jet 23 for proper cooperation therewith in the manner describedabove. As shown, the said base guide channelway 29 may be formed by aslightly depressed lip portion formed in the shelf floor 12 around thatportion of the rim of the discharge opening 13 across which theadvancing bases 1 approach the said opening, and sloping downwardly at aslight angle toward the opening so as to guide the approaching basesthereto not only in an endwise position but also in a position tiltedslightly forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 6. By so tiltingthe bases downwardly as they approach the discharge opening 13, theopening 3 in the open end of the shell portion 2 'of a base 1approaching the discharge opening with its open end first is more fullypresented to the air jet 28 passing upwardly through the dischargeopening, thus better assuring the entry of the air .jet into the baseopening 3 so as to enable the air jet to properly perform its in tendedfunction of sweeping or flipping the base away from the dischargeopening. In place of forming the base guide passageway 29 by depressingthat portion of the shelf 12 which borders the discharge opening 13 andacross which the bases 1 approach the said opening, the said base guidepassageway or channelway 29 may be formed instead by providing a portionof the shelf fioor 12 bordering the discharge opening 13 with raisedportions on either side of the path of travel 'of the approaching bases1 toward the discharge opening.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5, the air nozzle means 27for directing the air jet 28 upwardly through the discharge opening 13is comprised of unitary inner and outer ring members 30 and 31,respectively, which are mounted on the underside of and extend upwardlythrough the shelf floor 12 so that the inner ring 30 thereby forms thedischarge opening 13 in the shelf floor 12. The outer ring 31eccentric'ally surrounds the inner ring 30 and is joined at its upperend to the inner ring at that side thereof from which the bases 1approach the discharge opening 13, and throughout an arcuate extent atleast approximately co-extensive with the diametrical width of thetubular shell portion 2 of the bases 1, so as to provide in conjunctionwith said inner ring a crescent-shaped upwardly opening air outletpassageway 32 in the shelf floor 12 bordering the circular basedischarge opening 13 therein. The inner and outer rings 30 and 31 arejoined together at their lower ends to form a manifoldch-amber 33therebetween which .open end first.

7 is connected by a conduit 34 to a suitable source of relatively lowpressure compressed air or other gaseous medium. The inner ring 30 isprovided with one or more (four in the particular case illustrated) ofair nozzle openings 35 through the wall thereof spaced around the innerring and communicating with the manifold chamber. 33 and inclinedupwardly and inwardly of said inner ring so as to direct air jets 28upwardly through the central region of the discharge opening 13 andinclined toward the vertical center axis thereof so as to intersectthere'along. At least one air nozzle opening 35, however, should belocated at that side of the inner ring 30 opposite the direction ofapproach of the bases 1 toward the. discharge opening 13 in order toassure the directing of at least a portion of the resultant air jet 28from the nozzle openings 35 into the open end 3 of those bases 1 whichapproach the discharge opening 13 with their The crescent-shapedlupwardly opening airoutlet passageway 32 in the shelf floor 12bordering the circular discharge opening 13 directs a correspondingcrescent-shaped curtain of air 36 (Figs. 4 and 5) upwardly around thedischarge opening 13 which serves to trap therewithin the approachingbases 1 and confine or restrict them to a fixed advancing path ofmovement centrally across the discharge opening 13 so as to properlycooperate with the upwardly directed air jet 28 to effect the sweepingaway of those bases approaching the discharge opening with their openend first. In addition, the upwardly directed crescent-shaped curtain ofair 36 also serves to assist in the overbalancing and passage down intothe discharge opening 13, weighted end first, of those occasional onesof the bases 1 approaching the discharge opening 13 open end firstwhich, for some reason, completely cross the opening without being sweptor flipped away by the air jet 28 passing upwardly through the centralregion of the discharge opening 13.

' In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, only a singleair jet 28 from a single air nozzle 37 is employed for the purpose ofsweeping or flipping away from the discharge opening 13 all those basesapproaching the opening with their open end first whilepermittingoverbalancing and passage into the discharge opening 13.ofthose bases approaching the opening with their weighted end first. Asshown, the single air nozzle 37 is located so as to direct the air jet28 upwardly through the central zone of the discharge opening 13 andinclined toward the direction of approach of the bases 1 thereto. Theair nozzle 37 is suitably supported in place on a stationary member suchas, for example, the support bracket 25 for the base dispensing tubeguide rods 24.

In the operation of the article feeding apparatus according to theinvention, those bases 1 which, because they approach the dischargeopening 13 with their open endfirst, are flipped away from the dischargeopening, either fall back onto the floor 12 of the tray or shelf 22 at alocation thereon such as to be eventually moved, by the vibratorymovement of the unitary feed bowl 7 and tray 22, back into the line ofbases 1 being advanced to the discharge opening 13, or else fall backonto the tray floor 12 at a location such as to be carried around theportion of the tray floor 12 beyond the discharge opening 13 andeventually returned or discharged back into the feeder bowl 7.

The use of the article feeding and orienting mechanism according to theinvention provides a very effective and commercially practical way offeeding bases 1 of the -ment such as disclosed, less than one base outof every five hundred bases which are fed into the base dispensing-tubemeans 8 is oriented the wrong endwise way therein, i.e., with its openend 3 facing downwardly instead of upwardly. As a result, the articlefeeding mechanism according to the invention is entirely suitable foruse in association with other automatically operating mechanisms whichrequire the feeding of the articles thereto in a predetermined endwiseoriented position.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited'to thespecific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that they maybe widely modified within the spirit and scope of my invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patentis:

1. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shellportion having a substantially closed end and open at its other end, ina predetermined weightedend down position into a vertically extendingarticle-receiving tube means, said apparatus comprising means, includingan article-supporting shelf having an article-discharge opening thereindirectly overlying the said tube means, for progressively advancing thearticles along said shelf and endwise to a position over the saiddischarge opening therein, and air nozzle means located adjacent theupper end of said article receiving tube means and connected to a sourceof compressed air to direct an air jet upwardly through the centralregion of said discharge opening so as to sweep away from said openingall those articles approaching the opening with their open end first butpermit overbalancing and entry into the opening of those articlesapproaching the opening with their weighted end first.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said air nozzle meansis arranged to direct the said air jet upwardly through the saiddischarge opening and inclined toward that side thereof from which thesaid articles approach the said discharge opening.

3. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said shelf is provided,adjacent said opening, with an article guide channelway for" guiding theadvancing articles endwise to and in a predetermined direction ofapproach toward the said opening.

4. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said shelf is provided,adjacent said opening, with a slightly depressed guideway portionleading to and downwardly inclined at a slight angle toward the saidopening for guiding the said articles thereto in an endwise positiontilted slightly downwardly toward the said opening.

' 5. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said air nozzle meanscomprising an inner ring extending through the said shelf and formingthe said article-discharge opening therein and an outer ringeccentrically surrounding and joined at its upper end to said inner ringaround that side of said opening from which the articles approach theopening, said outer ring extending upwardly throughthe said shelf toprovide, together with said inner ring, an upwardly opening arcuate airoutlet passageway in said shelf bordering the article-discharge opening,said inner and outer rings being joined together at their lower ends toform a manifold chamber therebetween connected to said compressed airsource, and said inner ring having at least one nozzle opening throughthe wall thereof communicating with said manifold chamber and inclinedupwardly and inwardly of said inner ring so as to direct an air jetupwardly through the central region of said discharge opening andinclined toward the vertical center axis thereof.

6. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shellportion ha ving a substantially closed weighted end and open at itsother end, in a predetermined weighted-end down position into avertically extending article-receiving tube means, said apparatuscomprising an article conveyor comprising a tray along the floor ofwhich the articles are progressively advanced in a predetermined path,said floor having an article discharge opening therein directlyoverlying the said tube means and located in alignment with the path ofadvance movement of the articles along said floor, said floor also beingprovided with a guideway adjacent and leading to said opening forguiding the advancing articles in an endwise position to and in apredetermined direction toward the said opening, vibrator motor meanssupporting and efiecting vibratory oscillation of said tray in adirection to advance the articles therealong in the said predeterminedpath, and air nozzle means located adjacent the upper end of saidarticle-receiving tube means and connected to a source of compressed airto direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of saiddischarge opening so as to sweep away from said opening those articlesapproaching the opening with their open end first but permitoverbalancing and entry into the opening of those articles approachingthe opening with their weighted end first.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein the said air nozzle meansis arranged to direct the said air jet upwardly through the saiddischarge opening and inclined toward that side thereof from which thesaid articles approach the said discharge opening.

8. Apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein the said air nozzle meanscomprises a plurality of air nozzles spaced around the said dischargeopening and directing respective air jets upwardly therethrough andinclined toward the vertical center axis of said opening.

9. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shellportion having a substantially closed weighted-end down position into avertically extending article-receiving tube means, said apparatuscomprising an article feeder bowl having a bottom with an upstandingannular wall and a helical conveyor track rising from the bottom of saidbowl upwardly around said annular wall and terminating in a dischargeconveyor section having a floor portion and an upstanding marginal guideflange, vibrator motor means supporting and effecting vibratoryoscillation of said bowl about its vertical center axis in an inclinedarcuate path of movement corresponding approximately to the direction ofinclination of said conveyor track to advance the articles in said bowlup the said track and thence in a predetermined path across the floor ofsaid discharge conveyor section along the said marginal guide flange,said floor having an article discharge opening therein directlyoverlying the said article-receiving tube means and located in alignmentwith the path of advance movement of the articles across said floor,said floor also being provided with a guideway adjacent and leading tosaid opening for guidingvthe advancing articles in an endwise positionto and in a predetermined direction of approach toward the said opening,and air nozzle means located adjacent the upper end of saidarticlereceiving tube means and connected to a source of compressed airto direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of saiddischarge opening so as to sweep away from said opening all thosearticles approaching the opening with their open end first but permitoverbalancing and entry into the opening of those articles approachingthe opening with their weighted end first.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,765,900 Seabrooke Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 174,023 Austria Feb.25, 1953

